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Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 411, 18 March 1899, Page 1 (Supplement)

In ;i rural neighbourhood in Ohio, the extraordinary case recently happened of foiK brothers being married to four sisters on the same day. The parties were all residents of the neighbourhood, and youthful, their ages varying from eighteen to twenty eight. The wedding ceremony occupied nearly an hour. "As the populut'un increases boya and girls are thrown mure and more upon the streets. This is what is happening here, and it is this that appears to he at the root of the present) state of affairs. In every city of the coleny there is a greater or lets proportion of the growing population that only requires opportunity to develop its worst instincts. The opportunity is afforded by the lice: se which is given to young people of both sexes to roam the streets without control or question, parental influence is often a dead letter, and the State (loe3 not interfere, Evil companionship brings out wliat is worst in the neglected child, and degrading •xhibitions such as those afforded by tha Southland criminal calender are the result." —Lyttelton Times. According to tha the Chief Justice was much perturbed list Wednesday evening by the jury, who found the prisoner Ham guilty of theft recommending him to probation. Tin: evidence disclosed the fuel that the prisoner far the last two years had been carrying on a system of theft of tinner, iion, and other niiterial from building-, in course of erection within the city, and found out paid to the owners various sums being, as one witnessed expressed itt "sorry for that he had done and wishing to make reparation.' - ' On hearing the jury's recommcudat'on, his Honour rose from his seat and pacing to and fro, expressed his astonishment. " Surely gentleman." sad his Honour, " you cannot have fully considered what you are s tying I can understand such a recommendation in the ease of a man driven to thieving by poverty, hut for a man guilty of systematic thieving for two years and building two cottages out of the booty, probation was never intended.' A request for bail by the prisoner was peremptorily refused, and lie was remanded for snitenc \ It was explained that the jury made the recommendation because the prisoner had endeavoured to make some restitution.